To be invited to open for Kim Deal (PIXIES, The Breeders) at Vicar Street in Dublin before having any music released is exactly what happened to Madra Salach. It followed the day after their first festival appearance (Beyond the Pale in County Wicklow) this June. It is evidence indeed that the six-piece had been gathering attention in Ireland long before the release of debut single ‘Blue & Gold’ in September. The word was spreading fast and they played to a rammed room for their London debut at The George Tavern ahead of second single ‘I Was Just A Boy’ in October. Appearances at Ireland Music Week and Rotterdam’s Left of the Dial that same month continued the growing buzz around the band. The latter performance in Paradijskerk, a beautiful Catholic Church was utterly beguiling. It was standing room only and not a breath could be heard as they performed, lead singer Paul Banks pacing the altar while his band members remained seated, and yet as soon as they finished every single person rose as one to applaud.
Madra Salach are seeped in the Irish folk tradition but they bring a youthful interpretation which is mesmerizing audiences wherever they play. Madra Salach means ‘Dirty Dog’ in Irish and is pronounced ‘Mod-ra So-lak’. Perhaps this gives some indication of their intention, and the experimentation within their sound. The band share obvious influences such as Lankum and Lisa O’Neill but the list also includes the likes of Portishead, Boards of Canada, Just Mustard and the throat singing of Tuva (Siberia) – an intriguing blend.
The band began with Paul Banks (vocals), Adam Cullen (guitar) and Dara Duffy (drums) playing covers in pubs. “There was no kind of prospect for it to go anywhere other than for a way to spend an evening drinking pints and singing songs,” Paul tells CLASH. Around the same time Paul, Jack Martin (mandolin, tin whistle, synth) and Maxime Arnold (harmonium) talked about starting a more production heavy side project, experimenting with folk songs and ambient drones. Paul admits “at some stage the two amalgamated and we had a band.” Along with bassist Jack Lawlor the six are also in other bands – including Fizzy Orange, Sultan Leroy, Ten Hail Mary’s and Lowkick – but this combination of individuals has created something entirely different.
The group’s debut EP ‘It’s a Hell of an Age’ is set for release later this month. It includes both singles and was recorded at Dublin’s Sonic Studios. The title of the EP is the first line of a folk song called ‘Murphy Can Never Go Home’ written by Mick Curry. It tells of an Irish migrant worker in England who spends his life building Britain but becomes alienated from his roots, finding he has lost touch with home and belonging, leaving him isolated despite his efforts to seem successful. When playing live Madra Salach introduce one of their tracks with “this is dedicated to all the Irish men who died building London.” Such sentiment is at their very core. With six band members the creative process is collaborative but varied starting with anything from a chord progression or a riff to an idea for a whole tune. Paul acknowledges “I think everyone has respect for what everyone brings to the table.”
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To be absolutely clear Madra Salach are no flash in the pan. They have dedicated themselves to the live experience. It’s refreshingly old school to hear about the hours they’ve spent gigging in Dublin since they began. Paul admits, “Yeah, it’s kind of like the centre of our experience and comfortability. It’s how we started and what we’ve put the most time and care and effort into. I used to joke that we were the most under rehearsed band in the scene because we did all our rehearsing at gigs. We were doing two-hour sets and played some really woeful renditions of Irish ballads but then we just got better and better.”
It is impossible to talk about Madra Salach without acknowledging the lead vocal. It is remarkable. Guttural, fierce and emotive Paul strikes at the very heart of the listener. It has a timeless quality to it, entirely fitting to honour the Irish story-telling tradition and when combined with the instrumentation of his band mates the result is simply extraordinary.
Madra Salach will open for Gurriers in Dublin’s Button Factory at the end of December and 2026 will bring their own debut headline tour in both Ireland and UK with most dates already sold out. No surprise to learn that the initial London venue was upgraded to Tufnell Park Dome, and promptly sold out. Add to that appearances at Eurosonic showcase and Primavera festivals, the release of the EP and an eye-watering addition to Kneecaps gig at Crystal Palace in June alongside The Mary Wallopers, Gurriers, Fat Dog and Biig Piig – it is shaping up to be a hectic first six months for a band who are sure to make their mark on 2026.
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‘It’s A Hell Of An Age’ is out on January 23rd.
Words: Julia Mason
Photography: Robbie Stickland
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